Don't let this happen to you

Derek Kelly

Published: Friday, November 16, 2012 at 4:50 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, November 16, 2012 at 4:50 p.m.

Last Saturday evening my wife and I were relaxing in our home when the doorbell rang. Upon asking who it was ringing the doorbell the response returned became very interesting. The person said this is the Lexington Police.

As I got myself together and my wife opened the door, the officer stated that he was looking for Derek Kelly. I came out and announced myself as being Derek Kelly, and the officer stated that he had a warrant for my arrest. Now, you can only imagine the bewildered look on my face as I heard the words "warrant for my arrest."

I strongly suggested to the officer that he had the wrong person. I let him know who I was and what I did in the community, and how he must have been mistaken. The officer remembered who I was as I had spoken to him before on the behalf of another person I was assisting in a different matter. He was very nice and offered to take me to his computer to see the warrant.

The warrant stated that I had failed to appear for a scheduled court date. As I thought on having a missed court date, I suddenly remembered that I had received a speeding ticket some time back that I hired an attorney to handle for me. I never heard back from the attorney in regards to the outcome of the matter. I called and stopped by the attorney's office several times, but the attorney was never available.

During a routine traffic stop, I provided the officer with my license only to discover that my license had been suspended because of unpaid court costs. Consequently, I was charged with driving while license revoked. So, as soon as I could get to the courthouse I went to investigate this matter. Come to find out that the attorney had finally presented my case but never sent me a letter or any type of documentation stating that the case had been tried or the outcome. Therefore, because I had not paid the court costs my license was suspended.

Well, now I have an entire different issue from driving with a suspended license. I went ahead and paid the court costs to release the suspension on my license, but there was a new court date from the suspended license matter. Obviously, I completely forgot about the new court date that was set and was not present at the time of my hearing, and a warrant was issued for my arrest.

Forgetting court dates is not new for me. I, and other friends of mine, have forgotten a court date but have been able to reschedule a new one. This happens every day all over the country. There was no reason for me not to be present because I had already satisfied the court costs and had released the suspension on my license. I just simply forgot the date of my case.

Thankfully, the officer was very nice and treated me with respect and dignity. He apologized for the unfortunate incident and stated that he was only doing his job. Needless to say, I was taken and processed for not being present for my court hearing. Fortunately, my wife was with me during the entire situation, and I was able to be processed and come directly out.

The purpose of me sharing this personal experience is to caution and counsel others in making sure that you appear at your scheduled court date. While there are those who deliberately miss their court date for one reason or another, there are those like myself who honestly fail to remember things that are very important.

People all around like myself end up caught in the web along with others who seek to escape their fate by evading the consequences. I don't want what has happened to me to happen to others.

I have vowed to use this as a learning tool to educate others. As I researched this matter I found that there are many counties in several states that are conducting what is called "Operation No Show." They are rounding up people who have missed their court date for one reason or another and arresting them for failing to appear.

I don't want to see another naive and honest citizen endure such preventable methods. Whatever your ticket may be, whether seat belt, speeding or registration violation or anything of the like, make sure you write down your court date somewhere you look frequently. Put it on your refrigerator, in your cell phone, on your laptop or any place that will be a constant reminder of what you have to do and where you have to be. Don't let what happened to me happen to you.

The Rev. Derek Kelly serves as pastor of New Faith Full Gospel Church of Lexington.

<p>Last Saturday evening my wife and I were relaxing in our home when the doorbell rang. Upon asking who it was ringing the doorbell the response returned became very interesting. The person said this is the Lexington Police. </p><p>As I got myself together and my wife opened the door, the officer stated that he was looking for Derek Kelly. I came out and announced myself as being Derek Kelly, and the officer stated that he had a warrant for my arrest. Now, you can only imagine the bewildered look on my face as I heard the words "warrant for my arrest."</p><p>I strongly suggested to the officer that he had the wrong person. I let him know who I was and what I did in the community, and how he must have been mistaken. The officer remembered who I was as I had spoken to him before on the behalf of another person I was assisting in a different matter. He was very nice and offered to take me to his computer to see the warrant.</p><p>The warrant stated that I had failed to appear for a scheduled court date. As I thought on having a missed court date, I suddenly remembered that I had received a speeding ticket some time back that I hired an attorney to handle for me. I never heard back from the attorney in regards to the outcome of the matter. I called and stopped by the attorney's office several times, but the attorney was never available.</p><p>During a routine traffic stop, I provided the officer with my license only to discover that my license had been suspended because of unpaid court costs. Consequently, I was charged with driving while license revoked. So, as soon as I could get to the courthouse I went to investigate this matter. Come to find out that the attorney had finally presented my case but never sent me a letter or any type of documentation stating that the case had been tried or the outcome. Therefore, because I had not paid the court costs my license was suspended. </p><p>Well, now I have an entire different issue from driving with a suspended license. I went ahead and paid the court costs to release the suspension on my license, but there was a new court date from the suspended license matter. Obviously, I completely forgot about the new court date that was set and was not present at the time of my hearing, and a warrant was issued for my arrest.</p><p>Forgetting court dates is not new for me. I, and other friends of mine, have forgotten a court date but have been able to reschedule a new one. This happens every day all over the country. There was no reason for me not to be present because I had already satisfied the court costs and had released the suspension on my license. I just simply forgot the date of my case.</p><p>Thankfully, the officer was very nice and treated me with respect and dignity. He apologized for the unfortunate incident and stated that he was only doing his job. Needless to say, I was taken and processed for not being present for my court hearing. Fortunately, my wife was with me during the entire situation, and I was able to be processed and come directly out. </p><p>The purpose of me sharing this personal experience is to caution and counsel others in making sure that you appear at your scheduled court date. While there are those who deliberately miss their court date for one reason or another, there are those like myself who honestly fail to remember things that are very important. </p><p>People all around like myself end up caught in the web along with others who seek to escape their fate by evading the consequences. I don't want what has happened to me to happen to others. </p><p>I have vowed to use this as a learning tool to educate others. As I researched this matter I found that there are many counties in several states that are conducting what is called "Operation No Show." They are rounding up people who have missed their court date for one reason or another and arresting them for failing to appear. </p><p>I don't want to see another naive and honest citizen endure such preventable methods. Whatever your ticket may be, whether seat belt, speeding or registration violation or anything of the like, make sure you write down your court date somewhere you look frequently. Put it on your refrigerator, in your cell phone, on your laptop or any place that will be a constant reminder of what you have to do and where you have to be. Don't let what happened to me happen to you. </p><p>The Rev. Derek Kelly serves as pastor of New Faith Full Gospel Church of Lexington.</p>